IndyStar.com: Dick Crum
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Strawflower can be cut and dried
Name: Strawflower, Helichrysum bracteatum . Season: This annual produces lovely flowers from midsummer until frosty conditions prevail in the fall. As an added bonus, the flowers can be cut and dried and made into dried floral arrangements. The...
Linden viburnum is a shrub that can add color to your landscape
Name: Linden viburnum, Viburnum dilatatum , ‘Erie.’ Season: A large shrub with three seasons of beauty. In late spring, 6-inch domed clusters of tiny, showy white flowers are produced. The dark green foliage turns orange, red and yellow...
Foerster grass beauty lasts
Name: Karl Foerster feather reed grass, Calamagrostis arundinacea . Season: This perennial ornamental grass produces 4- to 5-foot flower spikes in late May and early June. These reddish-bronze spikes eventually turn buff brown by late fall and remain...
Colorful ornamental kale withstands frosty weather
Name: Ornamental kale, Brassica oleracea . Season: This ornamental is a true biennial that is treated like a fall annual. Once the frost and mildew have knocked out the annual flowers in late summer and early fall, it is time to put this frost-hardy...
Popular annual is sweet bedding plant
Name: ’ Sweet Alyssum,’ Lobularia maritima . Season: Plants and seedlings are started in early May and bloom until frosty weather. Once warm weather develops, the plants grow rapidly, reaching a height and spread of 10 to 12 inches....
Banana plant is pretty in purple
Name: Ornamental Bananas, Musa spp . Season: This tropical plant is a conversation piece in the outdoor living area from mid-May until frosty weather in early fall. It can also be grown indoors as a large houseplant, where it blooms and produces...
Joseph's Coat adds colorful surprise to garden or windowsill
An annual with very colorful foliage is Joseph’s Coat, Alternanthera ficoidea ‘Partytime.’ The common name of this unique pink and green foliage plant is derived from the biblical story of Joseph and his multicolored coat. Indeed,...
Don't get used to this color: It will change
The Changeable Water Lily, Nymphaea ‘Aurora,’ is an unusual water garden plant with a flower that changes from light to dark during the three or four days of its life. The flowers come in a variety of colors, opening in mid-morning and...
Sunflowers grow easily but need plenty of space
The common sunflower, Helianthus annuus , is a native of the western United States. American Indians grew the plants for their edible seed. West of the Mississippi River, the sunflower often grows wild. It is the state flower of Kansas but is...
In a pinch, try cattails for your dining pleasure
The Common Cattail, Typha latifolia , is a wetland plant found throughout Indiana. Its flower spike, which resembles a corn dog, makes this native perennial easily recognizable. The light brown spikes are 12 to 14 inches long and about an inch in...
Magic Lily a summer explosion
A real summer surprise in the flower garden is the Magic Lily, Lycoris squamigera . Typically, in early August, the sturdy, leafless stems of this perennial seem to pop up and quickly reach a height of 20 to 30 inches. Clusters of beautiful flowers...
Spiders aren't itsy-bitsy; rain won't wash them out
Daylilies are a popular group of perennials, and an unusual class of them is the Spiders, Hemerocallis . They are available in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes. The true Spiders have very long, slender petals with a length-to-width ratio of...
Tropical vine makes sweet addition to garden
A nice summer garden treat is the Candy Corn Vine, Manettia luteorubra . This tropical vine from the rain forests of South America is noted for its small, unusual blooms, which are bright red and tipped with yellow. The 1/2- to 3/4-inch-long...
Russian Sage toughs out hot, dry summer days
A perennial with attractive flowers and foliage is Russian Sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia . Spikes of rather small, lavender-blue flowers are present from mid-June into the fall season. The gray-white foliage provides a nice backdrop for the flowers....
Annabelle Hydrangea's blooms brighten the summer
A beautiful native shrub is the Annabelle Hydrangea,Hydrangea arborescens. This outstanding variety of Smooth Hydrangea is noted for its large (up to 10 inches in diameter), ball-shaped clusters of flowers that open greenish white and then turn...
Flowering shrub mints color in the garden
Aunique flowering shrub is the Peppermint Stick Spirea,Spirea japonica‘Shibori.’ This small variety of spirea has clusters of tiny flowers that may be deep rose, pink and white all on the same plant. Pink typically dominates the flower...
European elderberry displays lacy foliage
A shrub noted for its foliage is the black lace elderberry,Sambucus nigra‘Eva.’ This unusual European elderberry variety was developed in England. It is noted for its lacy, intense purple-black foliage. The fine texture and color set this...
Foxtail Lily' can be star of spring perennial garden
Aspectacular late-flowering spring perennial is the ‘Foxtail Lily,’Eremurus bungei. This member of the Liliaceae family is noted for tall, graceful spikes of dense flowers. The small bell-shaped flowers open from the bottom up, providing...
Leave Mayapple's fruit to woodland creatures
Awoodland plant found throughout the state is the mayapple,Podophyllum peltatum. It is easily recognized by its deeply divided, umbrella-shaped leaves that are 12 inches or more in diameter. The 12- to 18-inch plants may produce one or two leaves....
Japanese perennial gets seal of approval
A great plant for shady areas is Variegated Solomon’s Seal,Polygonatum odoratum. This perennial is noted for its broad, light green and creamy white variegated lance-shaped leaves. It has gracefully arching branches that are 24 to 30 inches...
Invasive weed takes root in Indiana
This was the year of Cressleaf Groundsel,Packera glabella,here in Indiana. This winter annual is classified as a weed. In Ohio, it is considered a noxious weed. It is easily recognized by its clusters of bright yellow flowers from late April into...
Common flowering quince easy to grow
Avery early blooming shrub is the common flowering quince,Chaenomeles speciosa. This deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub has single or double flowers that are about 11/2 inches in diameter. Flowering starts in late March, about the same time as forsythia,...
Perennial paints it black
Black is beautiful with Black Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon planiscarpus 'Nigrescens.'This clumping perennial is a member of the lily family and not really a grass. It resembles Liriope in its growth habit, with its narrow strap-like leaves.This ground...
Savor the look and taste of Egyptian Onions
Egyptian Onions, Allium cepa var. viviparum can be enjoyed in the garden or on your plate.This perennial onion is ornamental as well as being edible. Unlike most members of the onion family, the Egyptian Onion (it's not really from Egypt) forms...
Striking perennial brings color to gardens
Abeautiful perennial found in flower gardens is Red-veined Dock, Rumex sanguineus.This plant is a native of Europe, Southwest Asia and North Africa. It came to America by way of early colonists, who grew it as a vegetable and used the leaves like...
